Joint City Commission and Planning & Zoning Board Workshop on Comprehensive Plan Amendment Workshop 7

The City of Deltona City Commission and Planning & Zoning Board held a joint workshop on September 28, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:24 p.m. to continue review of the Comprehensive Plan Update, focusing on the Goals, Objectives, and Policies for the Future Land Use, Transportation, and Housing Elements. The meeting included extensive discussion on building heights, mixed-use centers, conservation incentives, and the impact of state legislation. No formal adoption occurred; direction was given for staff to prepare detailed maps and return on October 19, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy Bryan, a Deltona resident, expressed support for allowing affordable housing within mixed-use areas, suggested planning for e-bikes and scooters on walkways, recommended incentives for native landscaping and green building, cautioned against allowing recreation in recharge areas due to abuse, and urged sinkhole risk assessments before multi-story development. She also advocated for requiring data centers to self-generate power and use recycled water.

Discussion Items

• The consultant team reviewed the proposed Goals, Objectives, and Policies for the Future Land Use element, including objectives on coordinated growth, natural resource protection, historic preservation, housing choices, and land use compatibility.
• Discussion focused on building heights across proposed mixed-use centers: Uptown Center (up to 65 du/ac, originally proposed up to 6 stories by right and 9 by bonus), Community Mixed Use Center (40 du/ac, up to 6 stories), Community Mixed Use Corridor (40 du/ac, up to 5 stories), Neighborhood Mixed Use Center (25 du/ac, 3 stories), Main Street Mixed Use Corridor (25 du/ac, 3 stories), and Activity Center (existing 75 ft/7 stories by bonus).
• Commissioner Howington expressed discomfort with the bonus height for the Uptown Center, proposing to cap all heights at 6 stories across the city with no bonuses. A non-binding consensus vote (3-2) initially supported that direction.
• After further discussion, Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez retracted her vote upon clarification that the bonus height applied only to the non-residential uptown area and that existing policy already allowed 7 stories in the Activity Center. A motion to reconsider the previous consensus passed unanimously (5-0).
• Commissioner Howington then moved to retain existing requirements: six stories/75 ft citywide and seven stories within the Activity Center. The motion failed 2-3 (Commissioners Colwell and Howington in favor; Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez, Commissioners Heriot, and Nabicht opposed).
• Commissioner Heriot expressed disappointment at losing the ability to negotiate conservation bonuses through height incentives. Commissioner Howington suggested using conservation as a bonus criterion.
• The consultant clarified that the only area proposed for heights above 6 stories was the uptown community center, which currently has no residential. The other mixed-use categories have lower heights.
• Commissioner Howington requested maps with street names and radius overlays for the next meeting to evaluate potential impacts.
• Staff noted the schedule is behind and an additional workshop date may be needed beyond October 19.

Key Outcomes

• The consensus to limit building heights to a maximum of six stories citywide was reconsidered and not formalized due to the failed motion.
• The formal motion to retain existing height standards (6 stories/75 ft and 7 stories in Activity Center) failed (2-3).
• The workshop concluded with agreement to continue discussion on October 19, 2026, focusing on detailed maps, height bonuses, conservation incentives, and review of the remaining elements (Transportation and Housing). Additional meetings may be scheduled.
• No final action was taken; direction was provided for staff to prepare visual aids and refined proposals for the next workshop.